Food audit in Ukraine: Problems and challenges in an unstable environment

The full-scale invasion of russia against Ukraine in 2022 significantly disrupted the functioning of the food safety control system, necessitating the adaptation of audit and certification procedures in order to minimise public health risks and maintain the resilience of the food sector. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively identify the specific features of food safety and quality auditing under martial law in Ukraine and to determine pathways for improving control mechanisms in the context of post-war recovery. The research employed analysis and synthesis of regulatory and legal acts, comparative analysis of international standards in the field of food safety management, as well as SWOT analysis to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the audit system under wartime conditions. The findings indicate that martial law led to a reduction in the number of inspections, limited access of inspectors to enterprises, and an increase in violations related to the documentation of food safety procedures. Significant difficulties were identified in laboratory testing due to resource shortages and infrastructure destruction. It was established that enterprises were forced to adapt production through relocation, changes in technological processes, and the modernisation of supply chains. The SWOT analysis revealed the need to strengthen state control, develop laboratory capacity, improve audits of humanitarian supplies, and enhance producers’ awareness of food safety requirements. The results of the study can be used by enterprises in developing food safety control systems, by public authorities to improve inspection mechanisms under crisis conditions, and by certification bodies to adapt audit procedures to the realities of wartime